Drug-resistant gonorrhea is increasing globally, with resistance to ceftriaxone and cefixime rising significantly, according to data from the World Health Organization's Enhanced Gonococcal Antimicrobial Surveillance Program. The WHO highlights barriers such as limited diagnostic testing, stigma and the overuse of antibiotics as factors contributing to this trend.

Pediatricians and health institutions are rejecting a recommendation from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices to limit hepatitis B vaccination at birth to infants whose mothers test positive or have unknown status, opting to follow guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics to vaccinate all newborns. The ACIP's recommendation has drawn criticism for lacking scientific basis and for potentially increasing hepatitis B infections among children.

The stillbirth rate in the US fell to 5.4 per 1,000 pregnancies lasting 20 weeks or longer in 2024, according to a CDC report. There were disparities in stillbirth rates, however, with Black, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander mothers experiencing rates close to 10 per 1,000 pregnancies.

The FDA has informed Merck, Sanofi and AstraZeneca that their respiratory syncytial virus treatments for infants will face increased safety scrutiny due to concerns raised by vaccine skeptics. This move, led by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., follows claims of potential seizure risks, although several studies have found no evidence supporting this.

Polling shows that about half of Americans are at least somewhat worried about falling birth rates, with concern cutting across most demographics. Men express more anxiety than women, and Republicans are more likely than Democrats to rate declining birth rates as a serious issue. Motivations for concern vary: some cite economic anxieties about supporting an aging population, while others frame the issue in terms of national identity and cultural stability. Religious groups that emphasize traditional gender roles and family structures also report high levels of worry.

The implementation of a standardized screening protocol dramatically improved iron deficiency detection among pregnant women. By aligning ferritin testing with standard hemoglobin draws in both early and late pregnancy, the percentage of pregnant women screened for iron deficiency increased sixfold, from 10% to 63%. Despite widespread use of prenatal vitamins, about two-thirds of women tested were found to be iron deficient. The initiative highlights the importance of routine ferritin screening to identify women who may benefit from targeted iron supplementation beyond standard prenatal care.

A study in JAMA Network Open found that higher maternal vitamin D levels during pregnancy were associated with a lower risk of early childhood caries. The study involving more than 4,000 mother-child pairs found that higher gestational 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels also were linked to a lower risk of decayed, missing or filled teeth scores in children ages 1 to 6.

A growing number of American newborns are not receiving vitamin K shots, which reduce risk for severe, potentially life-threatening bleeding, as vitamin K is essential for blood clotting. The rate of those not receiving the shot increased from 2.92 percent in 2017 to 5.18 percent in 2024, based on data from over 5 million births, according to a study published in the JAMA reports. This trend suggests a decline in adherence to longstanding medical recommendations for vitamin K supplementation at birth.

The exclusion of nursing from the federal list of professional degree programs may limit nurses' access to federal loans for advanced degrees, which could worsen the nursing shortage, according to Jennifer Mensik Kennedy, president of the American Nurses Association. The association is advocating for nursing to be recognized as a professional degree program.

Limiting nurses limits care: "We're going to see increased wait times for primary care visits. We're going to see people not having access to health care in the United States," Mensik Kennedy says.